The Life Line

This painting depicts a suspenseful moment during a heroic rescue.
Crashing waves, dark threatening skies, and fierce winds surround
the two figures in the center. Remnants of a sinking ship are barely
visible in the upper left. Only a thin rope supports the weight of the
man and woman, who are suspended above the turbulent sea. The
woman’s clothing and hair are soaking wet, her head hangs back,
and her right arm dangles above the water. She holds onto the rope
with her left hand, indicating that she is conscious. Perhaps the figures
on the distant cliff on the right wait to help the man and woman as
soon as they reach the shore.

One year before he painted The Life Line, American artist Winslow
Homer witnessed a demonstration of a lifesaving device like the one
shown in this picture. He included details that show how it worked.
For example, the slack of rope in the water on the left indicates that
the people are being pulled to safety by the lower rope on the right.
In addition, notice how only the right half of the upper rope has
water droplets along its bottom edge. The left half was wrung dry as
the pulley moved from left to right.

Homer left some details of this story a mystery. A red scarf flaps in
the wind and hides the man’s face. Why could this be? Homer also
left the conclusion of the story unclear. It is up to us to imagine how
this adventure ends.

Let's Look

What do you think is happening
in this painting?

What is the weather like?
How can you tell?

What do you think the ropes
connect to on either end?

Let's Look Again

If you could step into this
painting, what would you
hear, smell, see, touch,
and taste?

Why do you think the artist
chose this moment of the
story to depict?

How do you think the
story will end?

This object is included inLooking to Write, Writing to Look, a teaching kit developed by the Division of Education and is generously supported by the Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc.